Surface-finishing machine



Nov. 27, 1923 S. K. BROWN SURFACE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5 1918 3Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Nov. 27, 1923 s, K. BROWN SURFACE FINISHINGMACHINE Filed Feb. 5. 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INYENTOR ,4 TTORNEYS Nov. 27I923- s. K BROWN I -sURFAcE FINISHING momma Filed Feb, 5. 1918 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Jeff/W2? i Q ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 27, 1923.

UNITED STATES SURFACE-FINISHING MACHINE.

Application filed February 5, 1918. Serial No. 215,492.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SPENCER K. BROWN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, anda resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York,have invented a certain new and useful Surface-Finishing Machine, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to surface finishing machines of the type setforth in myPatent No. 1,276,167, dated August 20, 1,918, and has for itsobject a particularly simple and efiicient arrangement of the movableabrading members and the means for actuating them.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allof the views.

Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side elevation and a lan view, partlyin section, of this surface finishing machine.

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary elevations taken on line 3-4, Figure 2,looking respectively to the right and to the left.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5,

%igure 6 is a sectional view of the controlling valve for the motivefluid and contiguous part of the operating rod therefor.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the detached body of the valve.

Figure 8 is an inner face view of the cap portion of the valve andmovable valve piece therein.

Figure 9 is a face view of the abrading member showing the relativearrangement thereof.

Figure 10 is an elevation of another form of abrading member.

This surface finishing machine comprises, generally, a frame, carriagesreciprocally movable in the frame, abrading members connected to thecarriages to be reciprocated thereby, means carried by the frame foractuating the carriages, and means also carried by the frame .forcontrolling the operation of the former means.

1 designates the frame which may be of any suitable form, size andconstruction, it being here shown as elongated in form and havingara-llel horizontal guides 2 at its lower si e extending from the frontend and terminating between the ends thereof, and also having a handle 3on its upper front portion and a handle 4 at its rear end.

5 are the carriages movable along the guides 2 in reverse directionsrelatively to each other, that is, one is moved forwardly While theother is moved rearwardly. The carriages are here shown as slides havingchannels 6 in their side'faces which receive the raised ribs 8 of theguides, as seen in Figure 5.

9 are the abrading members carried by the carriages respectively, eachbeing here shown as connected to its carriage by pivots arranged inhorizontal planes at a right angle to each other, so that the abradingmembers have a limited rocking movement in all directions to readilyconform to and ride over the surfaces being finished. i

As here shown the abrading members 9 include a body having its undersurface covered with abrading material, as felt 10,

the body having upwardly extending spaced apart lugs 11, pivoted ontrunnions 12 provided on a block 13 which in turn is pivoted at 14 tothe depending spaced apart lugs 16 on the carriage. The axes of thetrunnions 12 and pivot 14: are arranged at a right angle to eachother.

The rear end of the frame is supported on a suitable foot piece orabrading member 17 which slides over the work during the movement backand forth on the frame by the operator. This abrading member issubstantially the same as the abrading members 9 with the exception thatit is fixedly secured to the frame by horizontal pivots arranged at anangle to each other and the felt surface is permanently secured thereto.

The felt 10 is secured to the members 9 by prongs 9 extending throughone margin thereof and a. tightener engages the other margin. Thetigh'tener comprises a block 9 engaging such other margin and havingprongs entering the same and means, asa screw 9 fixed from endwisemovement to the abrading member and threading through the block 9". Asthe screw is turned, the block will be moved in one direction or theother to loosen or tighten the felt.

The means for actuating the carriages comprises cylinders 18 arranged inthe lower rear end of the frame in horizontalfalinement with the guides2, pistons 19 movable in the cylinders and having their rods 20 rigidtherewith and connected to the carriages 5, and means for controllingthe actuation of the pistons.

The pistons 19 move reversely relatively to each other and are held injuxtapositionv by means for transmitting and reversing the movement ofone carriage 2 to the other. As here shown, this means comprises a cableor belt 21, secured to posts or shoulders 22 on the carriages 2 andrunning over pulleys 23, 24, supported by the frame. The motive powerfor actuating the pistons 19 is preferably compressed air and passesfrom a flexible pipe, not shown, coupled to the nipple.

25 on the frame, through a passage 26 in the 'handle 4 to the cylinders,the passage '26 being controlled by avalve 27 hav ng a. grip handle 28arranged to be gripped by the same hand engaged with the handle 4. Thepassage 26 communicates with a suitable valvewhich controls thedirection of the flow of air to and from opposite ends of the cylinders.

The valve COHIPIISGSS. movable valve piece 29 which is operated by thecarriages 5 as they approach the limit of their movements in eitherdirection. Said means, as here shown, includes a rock shaft 30 on whichthe valve piece 28 is located, the shaft extending parallel to themovement of the carriages 5 and having means located in the path ofarranged to be acted upon by both carria es 5 and these rock shafts-arecoupled to et or to work in unison by means of a link 3 Fig. 3,connected at its opposite ends to rock arms 33 on said shafts.

The rock shafts 30 are prevented fromv than the other, the memberbearingthe most stopping at-the half-way point, as when the pistons are at deadcenter, by means of a spring-pressed rock arm 34, Fig. 4, having aroller 35 which coacts with a cam 36 on one of the shafts, thehighypoint of the cam 36 beingarranged to coact with the roller 35 whenthe rock shaft is at the half-way point,

' so that .in case of stopping of the. pistons in the dead center line,the rock shaft will be forced in one-directionorthe' other by thepressure of the compression spring 37 on t e arm 34. Thiscam 36 isprovlded on a lever 38 which is opcrable by hand, if desired to work thevalve piece 29 manually.

The valve may be of any suitable form, size and construction and as hereshown, it includes body 40 and a cap 41 in which the valve piece 29 ismounted, 'the.body having inlet 42 and exhaust passage 43, outletpassages 44 nd 45, and the valve piece 29 is formed wi h an inlet 46arranged to register with the inlet .42 in any position of the valvepiece, outlet passages 47, 48 arranged to register with the passages 44and 45, and a transfer passage 49 arranged to connect alternately thepassages 44, 43, and 45, 43.

The passage 44 is connected by a pipe 50 and branches 51, 5 2, to oneend of one cylinder 18 and the opposite'end of the other cylinder, andthe passage 45 is connected by the pipe 53 and branches 54, 55, to theother ends of said cylinders. The-feed.passage 26 is connected by thepipe 56 to the'intake passage 42. In operation, when the finger piece 28is depressed, the air flows through the passage 26, pipe 56, passage 42,slot 46, around the cap of the valve casing above the Valve piece 29,through one or the other of the passages 44 or 45, to one end of onecylinder 18 and to the other end of the other cylinder 18 to actuate thepistons therein in opposite directions. If the air passes out throughthe passage 44 and pipe 50 and branches 51, 52, the transfer passage 49registers with the passages 43 and 45, so that the air exhausts from thecylinders through the branches 54, 55, pipe 53, passage 45, exhaustpassage 43. When the air enters the cylinders through the passage 45,pipe 53 and branches 54 and 55, the air is exhausted from the oppositesides of the pistons of said cylinders through the pipe 50 and branches51, 52, thereof, passage 44, transfer passage 49 and exhaust 43. Inoperation, the operator canmanipulate the tool by taking hold'of thehandles 3 and 4 and in same instances, it is necessary to take hold ofthe handle 4 only. Upon gripping tightly the handle 4 the air passesinto the cylinders, and actuates the abradingmembers 9 back and forth,which rub over the surfaces being finished while the operator is movingthe entire tool over the work. I v

Should the operator cause more weight to be brought to bear on oneabrading member weight is prevented fromstopping by the equalizingmeans, that is the means for transferring and reversing the motion ofone abrading member to the other. Owing to the two carriages running inparallel paths and to the two cylinders and pistons therein arranged asset forth the machine runs evenly without jumping.

. In Figure 10 I have shown an abrading member provided with a rubbingsurface of soft metal 58 capable of'receiving an abrading material aspowdered pumice stone which has been previously applied to the surface.The particles of umlce stone are imbedded in the soft meta By .the useof a soft metal the work of rubbing down surfaces such facilitated.

This surface is usually lead and the lead is attached to the body bymeans of sets of tongues 59 fitting grooves 60 in the body 61 of theabrading member. of the abrader member with grooves thereinis arrangedin amold and the lead cast into the mold and around the body so that itcovers the lower face of the body and runs into the grooves 59.

This machine is particularly advantageous in that it performs anoperation by machine which has heretofore been thought impossible to doby machine and at the same time does it better and quicker than it canbe done by hand.

What I claim is:

1. A surface finishing ing a frame, carriages reciprocally movable inparallel paths arranged side by side, abrading members pivotallyconnected to the carriages, means carried by the frame as automobilebodies is greatly machine compris for reciprocatin the carriages andoperat-' ing to move main one direction while the other is moving in theopposite direction, and means connecting the carriages for holding thesame in juxtaposition to each other, the latter means comprising a pairof pulleys supported by secured to the carriages and running over thepulleys, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A machine for finishing surfaces comprising a frame, carriagesreciprocally movable reversely relatively to each other in parallelpaths, abrading members connected to the carriages respectively byuniversal joints, a stationary foot member connected to the frame at therear of the abrading members by a universal joint, and means carried bythe frame for reciprocating the carriages, substantially as and for thepurpose specified.

3. A machine for finishing surfaces comprising a frame, a reciprocatingrubbing member, a carriage for such member movable along the frame, therubbing member being connected to the carriage by a universal joint topermit relative rocking movements in all directions of the abradingmember and the frame, a stationary foot connected at one end to theframe b a universal joint whereby the frame can e tilted about the axisof the pivot connecting it and the foot, and means carried by the framefor reciprocating the carriage, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

4. A machine for finishing surfaces comprising a frame, a reciprocatingrubbing member carried by, the frame, a carriage for the member movablealong the frame, the rubbing member being connected to the Usually, thebody the frame, and a belt carriage by a universal joint, a stationaryfoot at one end and connected thereto by a universal joint, and meanscarried by the frame for actuating the carriage, substantially as andfor the urpose described.

5. In asurface 'nishing machine, the combination of a frame formed witha guide, a carriage movable along the guide, an abradin member carriedby the carriage, a cy nder, a piston movable in the cylinder andconnected to the carriage to actuate the same, means for controlling theflow of motive fluid to the cylinder on opposite sides of the piston,including valve gear comprising a rock shaft extending lengthwise of thecylinder and the guide and having means thereon arranged in the path ofthe carriage to be engaged and rocked thereby to rock the shaft, as thecarriage approaches the limit of its movement in opposite directions,substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A surface finishing machine comprising a frame having a air ofhorizontal parallel guides, the 'gui es being arranged on the lower sideof the frame, cylinders supported by the frame in alinement with theguides, pistons movable in the cylinders, carriages movable along theguides, the piston rods being connected to the carriages, and valvemechanism for controlling the flow of motive fluid to the cylinders,said mechanism being arranged above the cylinders and the guides, inposition to be operated by the carriages. during their movements alongthe guides, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. A surface finishing machine comprising a frame having a pair ofhorizontal parallel guides, the guides being arranged in the lower sideof the frame and the frame having handle portions on its upper side andrear end, cylinders supported by the framein alinement with the guides,pistons movable in the cylinders, carriages movable along the guides,abrading members connected to the carriages, the piston rodsbeingconnected to the carria es, valve mechanism for controlling the ow ofmotive fluid to the cylinders, said mechanism being arranged above thecyliders and the guides in position to be operated by the carriagesduring their movements along the guides, and a stationar abrading memberbeneath the rear portion of the frame in the rear of the movable member,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed. my name, at Syracuse, inthe county of Onondaga and State of New York, this 19th day of November,1917.

- srnuonn K. BROWN.

